Paul Alice

Overview

Paul Alice is Senior Solicitor at Colquhoun & Colquhoun Solicitors. He is an experienced lawyer focussing on business law, wills & estate planning and conveyancing & property law. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1983, and commenced in private practice later that same year. He was a volunteer solicitor at the Macquarie Legal Centre for 10 years post admission and continues the firm’s probono contribution in two local community centres.

Business and Commercial Law

Paul’s commercial and business service offerings include acting on the sale and purchase of companies, shares and businesses, drawing up contracts for shareholder, supply agreements, advising on related aspects of property transactions and commercial and retail leasing.

Paul has also acted for a variety of Not-For Profit entities on their commercial contracts and constitutional matters.

Paul has conducted negotiations and settlements of business disputes including partnership and shareholder disagreements and disputes. Paul has also advised clients in mediation as an alternate dispute resolution mechanism. He actively encourages clients to consider pragmatic commercial resolution options both before proceedings commerce and during the litigation process.

Property Law

Over the years Paul has been involved in a broad spectrum of property transactions from domestic properties to sales off the plan for resort development clients.

He also acts for a large number of local and regional businesses and provides advice on structuring, acquisitions and sales.

For first home buyers and individuals and families buying their home or investment property Paul and his team’s approach is to understand the needs of our clients and to deliver service and advice that is considered, timely, and practical.

Paul has been engaged on numerous loan transactions for either the lender or the borrower. Often those transactions included the giving or taking of security, in intergenerational transactions including scenarios involving asset protection considerations.

Paul’s clients include parents and children, investors, private lenders and SMEs.

Wills and Estate Planning

Paul endeavours to be approachable, practical and considerate of individual needs. His clients appreciate his down-to-earth nature, which makes it easy for them to discuss sensitive and emotional issues. He prides himself on helping people prepare their succession plan to try and minimise issues and disputes among beneficiaries while achieving the will maker’s gift making intentions.

Estate succession planning is not just about preparing a will. Paul takes a holistic approach to ensure all matters are considered for his client’s particular needs, including testamentary discretionary trusts, enduring powers of attorney, advance health directives, family trusts, superannuation trusts, superannuation death benefit nominations, companies and partnership pre-emptive rights considerations.

As our population ages, the number of options available beyond the traditional retirement village or nursing home have increased and include family arrangements for care, shared living and granny flats. Paul can provide advice on the issues that will arise from these arrangements, including the payment and refund of bonds or other living arrangements with family.

Paul and his team can assist clients with the administration of deceased estates, including obtaining Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration, with complicated court applications for informal wills that do not comply with the statutory requirements, and with the construction of wills.

Estate litigation for Family Provision Claims where the will is contested are emotional and complex matters and Paul can help clients achieve the best outcome in the circumstances. Each estate plan, administration or dispute is unique, and Paul is skilled at tailoring his advice to each individual’s needs.

Recognition

Paul was awarded a Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of NSW in 1983.

Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW

Solicitor of High Court of Australia

Member of NSW Law Society

Past contributor to the Lawyers Practice Manual and the Law Handbook.

He is a keen sportsman, an active participant in master’s cricket, and his local football club of which he is a life member and club sponsor.

He is a member of management committees for his local parish and board member for two religious institutions.

He is supported in all aspects of his work and non-work life by a dedicated team of work colleagues and family.